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ably to the rank I now hold among reasonable beings, and the hope I have of being once advanced to a more exalted station.

sociable beings, that of conversing with and knowing each other? What would they have done had matter never been created? I suppose, not have "The other, and that the ultimate end of man, is lived in eternal solitude. As incorporeal substances the enjoyment of God, beyond which he cannot form are of a nobler order, so be sure their manner of ina wish. Dim at best are the conceptions we have tercourse is answerably more expedite and intimate. of the Supreme Being, who, as it were, keeps his This method of communication we call intellectual creatures in suspense, neither discovering nor hiding vision, as somewhat analogous to the sense of seeing, himself: by which means, the libertine hath a which is the medium of our acquaintance with this handle to dispute his existence, while the most are visible world. And in some such way can God make content to speak him fair, but in their hearts prefer himself the object of immediate intuition to the every trifling satisfaction to the favour of their blessed; and as he can, it is not improbable that he Maker, and ridicule the good man for the singularity will, always condescending, in the circumstances of of his choice. Will there not a time come when the doing it, to the weakness and proportion of finite Freethinker shall see his impious schemes over- minds. His works but faintly reflect the image of turned, and be made a convert to the truths he hates? his perfections; it is a second-hand knowledge: to when deluded mortals shall be convinced of the folly have a just idea of him it may be necessary that we of their pursuits; and the few wise, who followed see him as he is. But what is that? It is somethe guidance of Heaven, and, scorning the blandish- thing that never entered into the heart of man to ments of sense, and the sordid bribery of the world, conceive; yet, what we can easily conceive, will be aspired to a celestial abode, shall stand possessed of a fountain of unspeakable, of everlasting rapture. their utmost wish in the vision of the Creator? All created glories will fade and die away in his preHere the mind heaves a thought now and then to- sence. Perhaps it will be my happiness to compare wards him, and hath some transient glances of his the world with the fair exemplar of it in the Divine presence; when, in the instant it thinks itself to Mind; perhaps, to view the original plan of those have the fastest hold, the object eludes its expecta-wise designs that have been executing in a long suc tions, and it falls back tired and baffled to the ground. Doubtless, there is some more perfect way of conversing with heavenly beings. Are not spirits capable of mutual intelligence, unless immersed in bodies, or by their intervention? Must superior of his perfections!" natures depend on inferior for the main privilege of

cession of ages. Thus employed in finding out his works, and contemplating their Author, how shall I fall prostrate and adoring, my body swallowed up in the immensity of matter, my mind in the infinitude

ΤΗΣ ΕΝΤ.

BRITISH ESSAYISTS.

THE TATLER:

OR THE

LUCUBRATIONS

OF

ISAAC BICKERSTAFF,

BY

SIR RICHARD STEELE,

ASSISTED BY

ADDISON, SWIFT, HUGHES, HARRISON, FULLER, ASPLIN, CONGREVE, TWISDEN, ANTHONY, HENLEY, GREENWOOD, HARRISON, DARTIQUENAVE.

STEREOTYPE EDITION.

London:

PRINTED BY W. LEWIS, FINCH-LANE;

FOR ISAAC, TUCKEY, AND CO.,

14, HENRIETTA-STREET,

COVENT GARDEN.

1836.

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